MPs probe lack of honours charges

The head of the police inquiry into the "cash-for-honours" affair is set to be questioned by MPs as to why so long was spent investigating claims which did not lead to charges.Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner John Yates will appear before the House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee as part of its inquiry into propriety in the honours system.Mr Yates last year requested that the committee's inquiry was put on hold while the Met investigated allegations that peerages were offered in return for financial support for Labour and the Conservatives ahead of the 2005 General Election.After a police investigation lasting more than a year, the Crown Prosecution Service announced in July that no charges would be brought in relation to the Labour Party.It emerged last week that there would be no prosecutions relating to Tory lenders, either.A spokeswoman for the committee has said it is not interested in re-running the police inquiry, but in finding out what lessons could be learnt in terms of possible changes to legislation.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

» More on this story... «

ITN | October 23, 2007

Tags:. .rights. .television. .propriety. .lead. .changes